Two Arrested For Fatal Saturday Liquor Store Shooting In St. Mary's County, Sheriff Says

A pair has been arrested in connection to one of two separate liquor store shootings that were reported on Saturday morning in St. Mary's County.

Leroy Christopher Neal, 48, of Mechanicsville, MD, and Britny Lee Blankenship
Photo Credit: *St. Mary's County Sheriff*

There were two separate shootings at St. Mary's County liquor stores on Saturday morning.
Photo Credit: *Google Maps street view*

Zak Failla

11/06/2023 12:51 p.m.

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office announced on Monday afternoon that Leroy Christopher Neal, 48, of Mechanicsville, and 33-year-old Britny Lee Blankenship, who has no fixed address, have been arrested in connection to the fatal shooting of Scott Marvin Benich.

At around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, officers were sent to St. Mary's Fine Wine & Spirits on Point Lookout Road in Great Mills, where they found the 46-year-old Benich suffering from a gunshot wound.

Bernich was rushed to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital and later flown to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma in Baltimore, where he died from his injury.

On Monday, the sheriff's office announced that Neal and Blankenship have been arrested and charged with:

First- and second-degree murder;
First- and second-degree assault;
Use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

They are being held in the St. Mary's County Detention and Rehabilitation Center pending their upcoming bond hearings.

Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.

Click here to follow Daily Voice St. Mary's and receive free news updates.